'You've got to find what you love,' Jobs says

This is a prepared text of the Commencement address delivered by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, on June 12, 2005.

I am honored to be with you today at your commencement from one of the finest universities in the world. I never graduated from college. Truth be told, this is the closest I've ever gotten to a college graduation. Today I want to tell you three stories from my life. That's it. No big deal. Just three stories.

The first story is about connecting the dots.

I dropped out of Reed College after the first 6 months, but then stayed around as a drop-in for another 18 months or so before I really quit. So why did I drop out?

It started before I was born. My biological mother was a young, unwed college graduate student, and she decided to put me up for adoption. She felt very strongly that I should be adopted by college graduates, so everything was all set for me to be adopted at birth by a lawyer and his wife. Except that when I popped out they decided at the last minute that they really wanted a girl. So my parents, who were on a waiting list, got a call in the middle of the night asking: "We have an unexpected baby boy; do you want him?" They said: "Of course." My biological mother later found out that my mother had never graduated from college and that my father had never graduated from high school. She refused to sign the final adoption papers. She only relented a few months later when my parents promised that I would someday go to college.

And 17 years later I did go to college. But I naively chose a college that was almost as expensive as Stanford, and all of my working-class parents' savings were being spent on my college tuition. After six months, I couldn't see the value in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life and no idea how college was going to help me figure it out. And here I was spending all of the money my parents had saved their entire life. So I decided to drop out and trust that it would all work out OK. It was pretty scary at the time, but looking back it was one of the best decisions I ever made. The minute I dropped out I could stop taking the required classes that didn't interest me, and begin dropping in on the ones that looked interesting.

It wasn't all romantic. I didn't have a dorm room, so I slept on the floor in friends' rooms, I returned coke bottles for the 5¢ deposits to buy food with, and I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare Krishna temple. I loved it. And much of what I stumbled into by following my curiosity and intuition turned out to be priceless later on. Let me give you one example:

Reed College at that time offered perhaps the best calligraphy instruction in the country. Throughout the campus every poster, every label on every drawer, was beautifully hand calligraphed. Because I had dropped out and didn't have to take the normal classes, I decided to take a calligraphy class to learn how to do this. I learned about serif and san serif typefaces, about varying the amount of space between different letter combinations, about what makes great typography great. It was beautiful, historical, artistically subtle in a way that science can't capture, and I found it fascinating.

None of this had even a hope of any practical application in my life. But ten years later, when we were designing the first Macintosh computer, it all came back to me. And we designed it all into the Mac. It was the first computer with beautiful typography. If I had never dropped in on that single course in college, the Mac would have never had multiple typefaces or proportionally spaced fonts. And since Windows just copied the Mac, it's likely that no personal computer would have them. If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

Again, you can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

My second story is about love and loss.

I was lucky — I found what I loved to do early in life. Woz and I started Apple in my parents garage when I was 20. We worked hard, and in 10 years Apple had grown from just the two of us in a garage into a $2 billion company with over 4000 employees. We had just released our finest creation — the Macintosh — a year earlier, and I had just turned 30. And then I got fired. How can you get fired from a company you started? Well, as Apple grew we hired someone who I thought was very talented to run the company with me, and for the first year or so things went well. But then our visions of the future began to diverge and eventually we had a falling out. When we did, our Board of Directors sided with him. So at 30 I was out. And very publicly out. What had been the focus of my entire adult life was gone, and it was devastating.

I really didn't know what to do for a few months. I felt that I had let the previous generation of entrepreneurs down - that I had dropped the baton as it was being passed to me. I met with David Packard and Bob Noyce and tried to apologize for screwing up so badly. I was a very public failure, and I even thought about running away from the valley. But something slowly began to dawn on me — I still loved what I did. The turn of events at Apple had not changed that one bit. I had been rejected, but I was still in love. And so I decided to start over.

I didn't see it then, but it turned out that getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again, less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.

During the next five years, I started a company named NeXT, another company named Pixar, and fell in love with an amazing woman who would become my wife. Pixar went on to create the worlds first computer animated feature film, Toy Story, and is now the most successful animation studio in the world. In a remarkable turn of events, Apple bought NeXT, I returned to Apple, and the technology we developed at NeXT is at the heart of Apple's current renaissance. And Laurene and I have a wonderful family together.

I'm pretty sure none of this would have happened if I hadn't been fired from Apple. It was awful tasting medicine, but I guess the patient needed it. Sometimes life hits you in the head with a brick. Don't lose faith. I'm convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You've got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don't settle.

My third story is about death.

When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: "If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you'll most certainly be right." It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: "If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?" And whenever the answer has been "No" for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.

Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure - these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.

About a year ago I was diagnosed with cancer. I had a scan at 7:30 in the morning, and it clearly showed a tumor on my pancreas. I didn't even know what a pancreas was. The doctors told me this was almost certainly a type of cancer that is incurable, and that I should expect to live no longer than three to six months. My doctor advised me to go home and get my affairs in order, which is doctor's code for prepare to die. It means to try to tell your kids everything you thought you'd have the next 10 years to tell them in just a few months. It means to make sure everything is buttoned up so that it will be as easy as possible for your family. It means to say your goodbyes.

I lived with that diagnosis all day. Later that evening I had a biopsy, where they stuck an endoscope down my throat, through my stomach and into my intestines, put a needle into my pancreas and got a few cells from the tumor. I was sedated, but my wife, who was there, told me that when they viewed the cells under a microscope the doctors started crying because it turned out to be a very rare form of pancreatic cancer that is curable with surgery. I had the surgery and I'm fine now.

This was the closest I've been to facing death, and I hope it's the closest I get for a few more decades. Having lived through it, I can now say this to you with a bit more certainty than when death was a useful but purely intellectual concept:

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

When I was young, there was an amazing publication called The Whole Earth Catalog, which was one of the bibles of my generation. It was created by a fellow named Stewart Brand not far from here in Menlo Park, and he brought it to life with his poetic touch. This was in the late 1960's, before personal computers and desktop publishing, so it was all made with typewriters, scissors, and polaroid cameras. It was sort of like Google in paperback form, 35 years before Google came along: it was idealistic, and overflowing with neat tools and great notions.

Stewart and his team put out several issues of The Whole Earth Catalog, and then when it had run its course, they put out a final issue. It was the mid-1970s, and I was your age. On the back cover of their final issue was a photograph of an early morning country road, the kind you might find yourself hitchhiking on if you were so adventurous. Beneath it were the words: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish." It was their farewell message as they signed off. Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish. And I have always wished that for myself. And now, as you graduate to begin anew, I wish that for you.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

Hubby and I enjoys Asian and anything served hot and delicious will definitely be a big plus in our book. Such is the case with Osaka Teppanyaki. Everything is cooked right in front of you with chef trained to entertain while doing the cooking.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

We went to Disney Store to search for an appropriate gift for Kalen's Birthday.

* Posing outside the store

Turns out that they were having a mini craft event with dress as your favorite princess theme. I noticed a lot of kids wearing princess costume and lining up. I didn;t know what was happening that time and caught sight of a Snow White costume which I tried on for Kimi... Hmmm Nice! but, pricey :( I thought that everyone was wearing costumes from the racks and let Kimi fall in line when I realized that the girls were wearing their own costumes... oops! Toink!

* My Little Snow White

When I was young, we went to Disney World. Snow White kissed me on the cheeks and from then on i was hooked with this Classic Princess...

* * *

"Oh, how I wish that I had a daughter that had skin white as snow, lips red as blood, and hair black as ebony..."

Kalen is turning 5 and she wants a pony erhmmmm a birthday party with a My Little Pony theme.

* Great cake for a 5 year old princess...

May your life be as colorful as a rainbow Kalen...

I actually saw these cupcakes first and was admiring the detail of how the pony looks like it was kneeling on a puff of clouds with colorful pixie dusts... I thought that was it and proceeded to check on the BBQ he he!

* Up close little ponies... SMILE!

The Spread was as yummy as expected. What Glenda and I have shared in common is our love for anything Filipino... ;) food, tsismis... movies, tv shows etc. and that shallow side of us brought us closer to what we are today. See, a shallow start makes a serious friendship. It was a great journey establishing that trust into a friendship that I will treasure all my life :) As the years gone by, so is our inhibition between each other.... Oops, I`m veering off the topic now. Back to Kalen`s party,

* A Family that cooks together... makes a very delicious party ;)

Justin has appointed himself as the guy to manned the cake. A creation lovingly created by Roselle.

* Serious job for little Justin, look how unsmiling he is like the guards in the Buckingham palace he he!

* Birthday Girl joins her sibling... So impatient to do the birthday song

This is the second little guy to my heart aside from Kenzo (of course!). It just warms my heart to hear him shout a greeting every time we see each other. I just feel loved... toink! Super Sweeeeet...

* A Smile that will break lots of girl`s heart ;)

Finally, the traditional singing of the birthday song

* Look at Kimi`s mouth.... Songer like her mom hehe!

* Kalen strikes a post to the side camera....

After the cake distribution, the kids gathered for a classroom role playing with Teacher Kalen bullying acting as the head of the classroom and the calendar as her blackboard :) PEACE GLENDA :)

* Look at the over grown students...

Outside,

* New Hairdo.... thirsty because of the heat

* Justin with his loyal bear friend...

I wasn't able to get much pictures as I was busy keeping an eye on Kenzo. The kids enjoyed themselves immensely and the adults were happy to talk and update each other.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Starting from Glenda's place , we headed for the skytrain. It was a perfect day outside to do some strolling and public transit. :)

We passed by a plant which I didn't realize before as a giant sunflower right in Glenda's street. I took the chance for a picture of the plant and another one with Kimi just so you's have an idea how big this sunflower is...

* Giant Sunflower by its lonesome

* Kimi as its company...

Skytrain was finally reached after walking a whole group of kids excited to take another playdate outside.

* 4 mommies, 6 kiddos.

Photographer Mel

* Photographer Joy took a stand for another group picture :)

At last, we reached the Science World stop. Surrey Moms Joy and Jo actually thought that our activity for the day was to go inside the Science World Museum and I guess Mommy Joy already informed Braden because he was really excited to go in but... the event plan was to go via Water Taxi which didn't disappoint, YEY!

* Aquabus Terminal from False Creek to Granville

The view from the waiting shed was already breathtaking. Some mommies were actually scared of the not so wide platform area plus the fact that there are 6 over excited kids, I guess mommies have a reason to worry he he!

* View from the left

* View up close from the right

* View in front of us while waiting...

Finally, an aquabus arrived.... Unfortunately, it wasn't ours and we were asked to wait for the next one arriving shortly to accommodate our group better.

* Not that boat Kalen :)

* Multiple Tickets (3 if I am not mistaken) required for each trip to Granville Island

We got the tickets at $8/person round trip which was a good deal rather than the one advertised on the site which will cost us $6.50 each way. :)

We got to Granville with hungry so straight to the public market to keep our stomachs at bay and at least disguise the kid's voice from all the public market goers.

* Photo Op of the complete group before our lunch

Mommies (L-R) Jo, Mel, Glenda and Joy

Kids (L-R) Rykerm Kalen, Kimi, Mac, Braden and Justin

Here, we went our separate ways to find the food of our choices while a mommy stay to keep an eye on our brood.

* Ryker makes a face... :)

* Braden giving out his energy bar...

No Braden, all the kids are in tip top energy form. We need warm milk instead to keep them from being so excited...

* Pizza for Kalen

* Halibut fish and chips for Kimi and Mel as well as another plate for Jo

* Calamari to share...

After lunch, we got the kids to go feed the pigeon and run around to release some pent up energy...

* Crackers for the birdies

* Joy and Mac strikes a pose for the camera

* Braden and Kimi shares a feather

* Braden getting chummy with Kimi

After awhile, we headed for Kid`s Market for some more kiddie action...

* Nice sculpture.. papier mache if I am not mistaken

Outside is a boat and some dock for kids to play in with a lot more birds to feed...

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A little something about this blog...

I started this blog 2003 when blogging was new to everyone and it was just curiosity that got me started. Then life became busy and blogging became scarce.I got to blogging regularly again when I came to Canada and when I became a mom. I wanted to document Kimi`s (...and now, Kenzo`s) milestone and hope that someday that they can read the entries here. I also went to Canada to start our family here and blogging has been my way of letting my family and friends from back home (Philippines) ...and in here, get updated on what is happening with me. It is my way of getting in touch and letting them into our lives.